Skylight construction



Jufi 17, 1934. J. E. LINCK SKYLIGHT CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 17, 11934. J. E. LINCK SKYLIGHT CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 29, 1932 Patented July 17, 1934 1,966,673 SKYLIGHT CONSTRUCTION Joseph Edward Linck,.Jenkintown; Pa. Application February 29, 1932, Serial Na 595,722

4 Claims.

My invention relates to supports for skylight structure. I

A purpose of my invention is to construct a skylight bar of I-beam section, glazing against 5 the top surfaces of the two oppositely extending upper flanges and thickening the upper flanges as the web is approached, to improve the cantilever support of the glass by the upper flanges from the Web, extending the web upwardly beyond the upper flanges to retain the cap and extending the lower flanges away from the web farther than the upper flanges and then upwardly to catch and remove condensation and leakage.

A further purpose is to provide a support for skylight structure, including an extruded bar which has longitudinal grooves on its upper flange surfaces, in which a sealing connection maybe alternatively of oakum, soft lead, rubberoid or putty between the bar and a glass of'the skylight.

A further purpose is to form, on each upper flange of a skylight bar, a longitudinally extending curved upward projection or bead, having recesses on either side running the full length of the bead. I I

A further purpose isto form two parallel beads on the top surface of each upper flange of a skylight bar, and to curvethe bead nearer-to the web to receive agresilient sheet glazing material, while employing the bead farther from the web to prevent slipping of the glazing ma,- terial from the flange.

A further purpose is to support a skylight by an extruded bar having a central vertical upright, integral with the bar, and to support a soft sealing material against the top of the upright and beneath a longitudinally extending spring metal cap.

A further purpose is to provide notches in a central vertical upright of a skylight bar, for the reception of the heads of stud bolts.

A further purpose is to fasten a cap to a skylight structure by means of upwardly extending stud bolts that are secured in notches in a vertical upright of an extruded bar.

' A further purpose is to provide an insulation cap above the glass joint of a skylight structure and to secure the insulation cap in place against the glass. p

A further purpose is to construct a skylight structure that can be easily set in place upon the curbs or walls of a building and supported directly on the curbs or walls of the building.

A further purpose is to construct a trussof skylight bars of preferably I-beam section, mitering the bars at the peak and resting the outer ends of the bars on curb plates, and to rest the glass on the upper flanges of the skylight bars.

Further purposes appear and in the claims. v I

Referring to. the drawings, Figure 1 is a 586+ tional, elevation of a skylight structure constructed according to my invention, set inplaceupon a curb above the roof of a building.

Figure '2 is'an enlarged fragmentary section f the peak portion of the skylight structure shown in Figure 1.,

Figure 2a is an enlarged fragmentary View of the peak portion of Figure 2..

Figure 3 isan enlarged fragmentary section of the eaves portion of the skylight bar shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view of a portion of the skylight structure shown in Figure l, with some of. the parts in section.

. Figure 5 is a perspective view to, a reduced scale of an extruded bar'of I-beam section that comprises apart of my skylight structure.

Figure '6 is a transverse section of Figure 4 taken on the line 6'-6 thereof, and illustrating one form of sealing connection between the skylight glass and a flangeof'the bar.

. Figure 6a is a transverse section of: Figure 1 taken on the line 6a-6a thereof.

. Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are fragmentary views similar to the upper part of Figure 6, but showing the use of different sealing materials between the skylight glass and the flange of the bar.

Figures 11 and 12 are reduced scale views similar to Figure 6, but showing, a modification;

Similar numerals indicate like parts figures.

I have preferred to illustrate my skylight structure resting upon a curb above a roof of a build ing. The illustration is one onlyof the many arrangements that may be employed, as my skylight structure is adapted to placement directly upon the walls of a building, or can be located as necessity requires. My skylight comprises skylight bars, preferably in the form of ,I-beams 10 and 11, cut-s ngularly at 12 and 13 to form a mitered joint 14. The bars are secured together at their mitered ends by tie plates 15, which are attached to the bars ltl and 11 by rivets 16, or by any other suitable fastening. The bars are also reinforced below their. meeting in the specification in all ends by a ridge plate which is bolted to the I-beams and extends the full length of the skylight.

The outer ends 1'7 and 18 of the skylight bars are supported upon curb plates 19. A tie rod 20 is employed to fasten the bars together at their lower ends, as shown in Figure 1. The curb plates 19 are continuous for the full length of the skylight opening and are bent angularly to engage the lower portions 21 and 22 of each of the bars. The lower portions 21 and 22 of the bars are, fastened to the curb plates by bolts 23. The lower inward extension 24 of the curb plate seats upon and is secured to the curb 25 above .the roof of a building, by means of any suitable fastening.

The bar of I-beam formation used inmy struc- 1 ture, as shown in Figures 1-10. inclusive, is provided with upper and lower outwardly extending flanges 26 and 27, respectively, each extending on opposite sides of a central vertical web 28. It will be noted that the upper flanges are thicker, although'n'ar'rowenthan the lower flanges, thus distributing the metal about equally between the upper and lower portions of the I-beam section, so that the center of gravity of the section of the bar is intermediate' between'the upper and lower flanges and preferably equidistant between them. Abovethe upper flange and integral with the bar, I- provide-a-central vertical rib 29, which is in realityan upward extension of the webv above the upper flanges26. Itis notched-at 30 to receive the vi headed ends 31 of stud bolts 32. These notches are spaced at intervals along the length of the vertical rib 29 and the heads of stud bolts are inserted in the notches.

The outwardly extending upper flanges 26 are provided with longitudinally'grooved surfaces 33 and with longitudinal upwardly projecting ribs 34. The ribs may be the inner or outer walls of the grooves. 'A continuous strip of sealing material suchas oakurn 33 softglazing wire 33 'or flat stripsof resilient or soft material such as strips of rubberoid 34' or soft lead placed in the grooves 33 or over ribs 29; provides a sealing connection 7 between the I-beam 28 and a glass 35 of a skylightythus' establishing both 'a cushion for the glass and awater-tight seal between the glass and the flange of the bar.

Above the glass I place a cap (strip) of rubberoid 'or like material 36 and above the rubberoid I place a spring tension cap- (strip) 37. The rubberoid BB-an'd the spring tension cap 3'7 extend the lengths of the two bars, 10 and 11 and in width span from the flat of one glass'near the edge to that of 'theothe'r. They are apertured at 38 and 39 to receive the upwardly extending end of the stud bolt 32. A cap nut 40 is screwed upon the stud bolt 32 and against the tension cap, to hold the tension cap and rubberoid cap firmly in place 3 above the glass and also to hold all of the parts in place against the bar. The ease of assembly of the parts will'be apparent. The seal when completed is extremely efficient.

The lower flange extensions 27 provide a suit able condensation gutter 41'.

I prefer to use oakum rope as a seal between the glass and the flange of the bar but other material such as soft lead glazing wire, flat strips of rub-' nectionbetween meeting sections of glass 42 and 43 in which a sheet metal strip 44 is inserted lengthwise of the peak between the upper flange of the bar and the glass sections 42 and 43. The metal strip extends laterally (down the two sides of the roof) a short distance only and has its ends 45 overlapping the body 44 of the strip to provide strength and finish to the strip.

At the peak or meeting ends of the glass sections, the metal strip 44 is bent upwardly and downwardly to form a stiffened projection 46. The projection 46 provides an additional brace for the strip and at the same time projects upwardly far enough to form a resting place for the rubberoid cap which is placed above the projection and above the glass.

The projection 46 acts additionally as a spacer for the glass section edges and also as a center wall between two pockets 47 and 48 adjacent the ends of the glass which are filled with a sealing material 49 of some substance such as putty or the like. The ends 42 and 43 of the glass sections form the opposite ends of the pockets.

In Figures 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10 I have illustrated the head of the-stud bolt as being flush with the sides of the vertical rib, having cut the head off to provide this flush surface at 32 but in Figure 9 the head 31 is intact.

' A particular advantage of the grooves and'ribs upon the surfaces of the flanges of the bars is that of their adaptability to meet the different requirements of users. For instance some customers want oakum, others want soft lead glazing wire, rubberoid or putty as a sealing agent.

Oakum or lead wire, is placed in the groove 33. The sealing material extends upwardly from the flange to make engagement with the glass sections;

When rubberoid 01' a flat strip of lead is employed it is placed over the ribs 34 of the flange, and extends upwardly to complete the sealing between the bars and the glass.

In Figure 9, I have illustrated the use of putty as a sealing agent. With this use I find it desirable to place the putty 50 in a groove or recess 51 between the central vertical rib 29 and the rib 34. The putty will extend upwardly above the riband into a space 52 formed between the end of the glass and the rib 29.

It will be seen clearly that my bar construction is interchangeable to meet the particular requirements of different users and at the same time provide an eflicient seal at the point in a skylight structure where leakage is most likely to take place.

The rubberoid cup above the glass is exposed to the elements and it is capped by the metal strip, preferably of aluminum or like non-rustable or non-corrosive materials.

At the outer ends of the I-beains, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, I secure a sheet metal apron 53 to the curbs 25. The apron is shaped like an eavestrough at 54 with an outlet 55 and is bent upwardly as a ledge 56 under the glass at its end 35. It acts as a trough for an elastic cement 57 and makes a seal at the edge of the structure. Condensate lodging in the trough will be discharged from'the trough through the outlet in the eavestrough. r

In Figures 11 and 12, I have illustrated modified forms of my invention which show an extruded T bar instead of an extruded I-beam with separate condensationgutters attached to the bar by rivets or any other desirable fastenings.

It will be obvious that the same kind of construction as regards the central vertical rib 29 with its notches, shown in Figures 1 to 10 inclusive, can be adapted to the bar of Figures 11 and 12 in order to allow for the insertion of the stud bolts 32 in the notches 31 to secure the bar, sealing materials and spring cap together.

The bar 58 has outwardly extending flanges 59 and a downwardly directed rib 60. Separate condensation gutters 61 are fastened to the rib 60 by any suitable fastening such as by rivets 62.

On the upper surface of each of the outwardly extending flanges 59, I provide the end of the flange with a rounded surface 63 about which a strip of sealing material 64 such as soft lead or rubberoid may be placed if desired, as clearly shown in Figure 11.

The strip should have suflicient thickness above the flange to make good sealing engagement with the glass.

In Figure 12 I have placed the sealing material 64 in a groove 65 formed in the upper surface of the flange 5Q adjacent the rounded surface 63. In the use of the groove 65 of this figure I place a sealing material 64 such as oakum or soft lead glazing wire in the groove 65, which sealing material extends upwardly to make sealing engagement with the glass.

It will be evident that the fastening means for the cap is held in position in the slots of the web extension by engagement with the abutting ends of the glass, on either side of the web extension. Thus it is impossible for the fastening means to slip out laterally from the slots in the web extension, once the glass is placed in position.

It will further be evident that, where the sides of the bolt head are flattened, the glass will prevent, or at least retard, rotation of the bolt in the slot. While this is not essential, since the bolts are sufficiently retarded by friction to permit tightening of the cap nuts, it is highly desirable, and makes the operation of the bolts more positive.

It will also be evident that the walls of the slot should closely conform to the shape of the bolt head for most advantageous use.

It will be evident that the upper flanges must of necessity be narrower than the lower flanges of the skylight bar in order that the lower flanges may catch leakage and condensate dropping from the upper flanges. I prefer to make the upper flanges thicker than the lower flanges, as shown, so that the amount of metal in the upper flanges and associated parts (such as the structurally effective part of the web extension and the ribs on the upper flanges) will about equal the amount of metal in the lower flanges. Under these conditions the center of gravity of the section will be somewhere in the web, preferably equidistant between the upper and lower flanges. This condition is especially conducive to maximum stiffness for the material used in the bar and for a given height of bar.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain part or all of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such in so far as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a skylight construction, a bar of I-beam section having a web, lower flanges which are relatively thinner and wider and upper flanges which are relatively thicker and narrower, a plurality of spaced ribs on each upper flange above its upper surface, sealing material held in place by the spaced ribs and glass resting upon the sealing material and supported by the upper flanges.

2. An integral skylight bar comprising a web, lower flanges turned up at their outer ends to provide a gutter, upper flanges narrower than the lower flanges to permit dropping of liquid into the gutter but thicker than the lower flanges to distribute the metal in the cross section more uniformly between the upper and lower flanges, a plurality of spaced ribs extending longitudinally above the upper surface of each upper flange and adapted to receive and hold sealing material and a web extension in prolongation of the web and above the upper flanges.

3. In a skylight construction, a skylight bar of I-beam section having upper and lower flanges and an intermediate web, the upper flanges being narrower than the lower flanges to permit dropping of liquid onto the lower flanges, but the upper flanges being thicker than the lower flanges to maintain the center of gravity of the section equidistant between the upper and lower flanges, the lower flanges extending upwardly at their outer ends to hold liquid on their upper surfaces, glazing means on the upper flanges, glass upon the glazing means, a cap bridging the glass from one upper flange to the other and means for holding the cap in place.

4. In a skylight construction, a skylight bar having a web, flanges extending laterally from the web on opposite sides near its top, a web extension above the flanges and in prolongation of the web and a pair of spaced ribs extending above the upper surface of each flange, parallel to the web extension, in combination with a strip of sealing material upon the innermost ribs of each pair, prevented from losing its position inwardly by the web extension and prevented from losing its position outwardly by the outer rib of the pair, glass resting upon each piece of sealing material, a cap contacting the glass on either side of the web extension and means for holding the cap in place.

JOSEPH EDWARD LINCK. 

